DUKE ENERGY COMPLETES SALE OF HYDROCARBONS UNIT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Duke Energy announced the closing of the sale of Duke Energy Hydrocarbons LLC (DEH) to a private firm for approximately $83 million.  DEH was a wholly owned subsidiary of Duke Energy managed by Duke Energy North America (DENA) that was involved in the exploration and production of natural gas and petroleum, primarily in the Gulf of Mexico.

"We continue to be successful in opportunistic asset sales by capturing value through the divestiture of non-core assets," said Robert T. Ladd, president of DENA. "At DENA, we are focusing on energy sales and marketing around our asset positions." 

“The sale of our hydrocarbons business is consistent with our overall North American portfolio management strategy," said Richard B. Priory, chairman and chief executive officer of Duke Energy. “This transaction, along with our previously announced asset sales this year, puts us closer to our goal of approximately $1.5 billion in gross proceeds from asset sales for 2003."

Duke Energy is a diversified multinational energy company with an integrated network of energy assets and expertise. The company manages a dynamic portfolio of natural gas and electric supply, delivery and trading businesses – meeting the energy needs of customers throughout North America and in key markets around the world. Duke Energy, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: www.duke-energy.com.

This document includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Although Duke Energy believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its goals will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements herein include legislative and regulatory developments; the outcomes of litigation and regulatory proceedings or inquiries; general economic conditions, including any potential effects arising from terrorist attacks and any consequential hostilities or other hostilities; the effectiveness of the company's risk management and internal controls systems; the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices for oil, gas, coal, electricity and interest rates; the extent of success in connecting natural gas supplies to gathering and processing systems and in connecting and expanding natural gas and electric markets; the performance of electric generation, pipeline and natural gas processing facilities; the timing and success of efforts to develop domestic and international power, pipeline, gathering, processing and other infrastructure projects; conditions of the capital markets and equity markets during the periods covered by the forward-looking statements; and other factors discussed in Duke Energy's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:	Terry Francisco
Phone:	704/373-6680
24 Hour Phone:	704/382-8333
Email:	thfrancisco@duke-energy.com
Contact:	Kate Perez
Phone:	713/627-6527
24 Hour Phone:	704/382-8333
Email:	kcperez@duke-energy.com